Monday 1 January 2007

Overview of the task ahead

Speed records with vehicle have always been a challenge to those involved breaking the boundaries of what is accepted to be possible. This project has been dismissed by many as 'not possible' and is not only an immense challenge for ourselves but also for the physics involved. As an example the wheels on a Formula One car turn at almost 4000rpm at 190mph, on our car the wheels are estimated to turn at up to 40,000rpm and the precise engineering of the hubs and bearings on such a small scale is proving a feat in itself as the heat build up will melt or at least seize any of the parts readily available in the marketplace.
The condition of the tarmac on the track will also be a challenge requiring approximately 2 miles of perfectly smooth tarmac as even the slightest piece of gravel at this scale and this speed would be like Thrust SSC hitting a rock on the salt flats in its attempt.
Control of this vehicle is also an unknown at this time as along a two mile track it is not possible for the controller to see the car sufficiently to control the car from a fixed point and a following vehicle was decided upon for this, however there is no car currently available with the acceleration capabilities to keep up with the record car and a helicopter appears to be the only option that could stay even close to the model for the driver to operate the and follow the car.
These are only a few of the boundaries being breached in this attempt and we feel it is of significant importance and achievement not only for ourselves but for model builders, enthusiasts, engineers, and the public alike - if it is at all possible to achieve.

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